US To Sell $900M In Patriot Missiles To Kuwait To Blunt Potential Attack From Iran - Polidicks

[quote](AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon is planning to sell more than 200 Patriot missiles worth some $900 million to Kuwait as part of its long-term effort to build up anti-missile systems in the Persian Gulf. The initiative is aimed at defending Gulf allies against potential Iranian missile strikes and to signal to Tehran that any aggression would not go unanswered. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced Wednesday that it had notified Congress of the proposed sale. Congress could object but is not expected to do so. Kuwait has long been identified as one of several Gulf states already with Patriot missiles. U.S. officials say Patriot batteries also have been stationed in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. [/quote] [url]http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/11/ap/government/main6764083.shtml[/url]

$900M in Patriot Missles? Is that like, half a missle? Might explain why our defense spending is so high, lol.

[QUOTE=POLOPOZOZO;23992482]$900M in Patriot Missles? Is that like, half a missle? Might explain why our defense spending is so high, lol.[/QUOTE] Well it costs 2M for one missile. So they're getting 450 missiles give or take. They cost anywhere between 2M and 3M so it is a rough estimate.

Someone care to explain the uses of Patriot Missiles? My best guess would be the interception of other missiles

They destroy surface-to-surface missiles.

[QUOTE=Aaronn;23992595]Someone care to explain the uses of Patriot Missiles? My best guess would be the interception of other missiles[/QUOTE] Yes. Patriot missiles are outdated, but proven. They are anti ICBM and anti MRBM, they have a 33% chance of hitting the target, which, despite the age of the system, is one of the best hit rates in the world.

We got some too over here. But really, I don't like the idea of putting them in Bahrain.

It's just a gesture to Iran saying "Don't mess with our (small and weak) allies".

and then to invade Kuwait because they have weapons of mass destruction

I have a family friend that was stationed in Kuwait recently :ohdear:

[QUOTE=Aaronn;23992595]Someone care to explain the uses of Patriot Missiles? My best guess would be the interception of other missiles[/QUOTE] It used to be a long range SAM, but in today's environment it's PAC-3 variant is designed to kill previous generation ballistic missiles used by Iran and North Korea.

War is so stupid, think about what that money could buy?

[QUOTE=ohadje;23992691]It's just a gesture to Iran saying "Don't mess with our (small and weak) allies".[/QUOTE] I doubt Iran will, it just creates more distrust and hostility in the region.

Oh yes. Let us arm another middle eastern country because that worked so well with the mujaheddin during the afghan war. :downs:

I actually think it makes it more stable. The bigger the fear, the lesser the chance war will occur. [QUOTE=CrazyMoron;23992822]Oh yes. Let us arm another middle eastern country because that worked so well with the mujaheddin during the afghan war. :downs:[/QUOTE] It's KUWAIT.

[QUOTE=CrazyMoron;23992822]Oh yes. Let us arm another middle eastern country because that worked so well with the mujaheddin during the afghan war. :downs:[/QUOTE] Yes but Kuwait is our Middle Eastern buttbuddy plus they owe us big for Desert Storm.

[QUOTE=CrazyMoron;23992822]Oh yes. Let us arm another middle eastern country because that worked so well with the mujaheddin during the afghan war. :downs:[/QUOTE] Except Kuwait isn't an unstable country like Afghanistan. Hey, you Americans have been exporting top quality weapons like M1 tanks and Apache attack helos to countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia since the 1990s.

Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.

[QUOTE=joost1120;23992896]Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.[/QUOTE] They cost so much because the people that make and develop them still need to make money.

[QUOTE=joost1120;23992896]Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.[/QUOTE] Because it has a complicated system that locates an incoming missile and hits it.

[QUOTE=joost1120;23992896]Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.[/QUOTE] The tracking systems are the most expensive part. After all, you have to hit a target moving at mach 3, that is about the size of mini cooper, while the anti-missile is traveling at mach 3. Fuel comes in second.

[QUOTE=joost1120;23992896]Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.[/QUOTE] [quote]The PAC-3 is a solid-propellant rocket-powered missile controlled by both aerodynamic fins and small forebody-mounted ACM (Attitude Control Motor) rockets for increased terminal agility. For mid-course guidance it uses essentially the same TVM (Track Via Missile) guidance as the MIM-104 Patriot, but for more accurate terminal homing, it is equipped with a Ka-Band active radar seeker. The PAC-3 missile is primarily a hit-to-kill vehicle designed to knock down incoming ballistic missiles with its kinetic energy, but it is also equipped with a high-explosive fragmentation warhead to enhance the kill probability against "conventional" targets like aircraft or cruise missiles.[/quote] Yes, all of this is cheap as hell. A PAC-3 is no different from an RPG. :downs:

So this is USA's new anti-recession plan?

[QUOTE=joost1120;23992896]Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.[/QUOTE] The computer that locks onto flying objects is expensive. And even a simple rocket can be very expensive. [editline]02:00AM[/editline] [QUOTE=Mamok Zalku;23993104]So this is USA's new anti-recession plan?[/QUOTE] Why not? Russia sells a bunch of their guns.

[QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;23993018]The tracking systems are the most expensive part. After all, you have to hit a target moving at mach 3, that is about the size of mini cooper, while the anti-missile is traveling at mach 3. Fuel comes in second.[/QUOTE] It shouldn't be more than one expression 2 chip. :downs:

[QUOTE=joost1120;23992896]Wow. 2 million for a simple missile?! Why are they so expensive? As far as I know, they are a thing that propels itself with fuel and explode when it hits something. That doesn't seem so expensive.[/QUOTE] missiles are far from simple

America? Disarming? You're shitting me

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;24003465]America? Disarming? You're shitting me[/QUOTE] Not disarming, selling of surplus. We got better anti-misslie systems now, anyways.

[QUOTE=ExplodingGuy;24003481]Not disarming, selling of surplus. We got better anti-misslie systems now, anyways.[/QUOTE] Damn. I thought it was too good to be true. At least there's money for us though.

[QUOTE=ohadje;23992691]It's just a gesture to Iran saying "Don't mess with our (small and weak) allies".[/QUOTE] nobody picks on him but me!